Supporting the Human Spirit through Nature
Animal Assisted & Horticultural Interventions
Building Community & Inspiring Wonder
The Nature Connection enhances well-being, builds social connection, and deepens people's relationship with nature.
Our programs foster a sense of belonging and curiosity, whether we're engaging a child in an after-school program, visiting an elder in memory care, or welcoming families to our Nature Center on a Saturday afternoon. Through hands-on experiences, sensory exploration, and one-on-one interactions, we create space for wonder to bloom and for community to grow.
1,600 individuals served
across 380 programs a year
95%
feel more connected to nature.
.png)
feel more connected to others.
89%
.png)
of staff see participants taking healthy, confidence-building risks.
100%
.png)
"Our residents love this interactive program. They enjoy touching & smelling, they feel smart and enjoy meaningful conversation. The program validates who they are and who they were. The program is calming and fun for all."
Jacqueline, Bridges by EPOCH in Westford, MA
Upcoming Events
News & Updates
Your generosity keeps nature within reach.
More than 40% of our income comes from donors, whose support allows us to bring meaningful nature experiences to people who otherwise would not have access.
Most of the program sites we serve—including memory care units, group homes, day centers, and therapeutic schools—operate with activity budgets of only a few hundred dollars a month. Without donor support, they simply could not afford the level of specialized programming The Nature Connection provides, and that they need.
Your gift makes this possible:
-
Provides sliding-scale pricing so cost is never a barrier to participation.
-
Covers materials, travel, and animal care needed to reach under-resourced communities.
-
Sustains a team trained in trauma-informed, dementia-friendly, strengths-based practice.
.jpg)